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BENFEY. his introduction to G. W. II. BickeU's edition and translation into (iernian (T.eipzig, 1870) of the Syrian KaliUig and Drniuiag. He thus opened to other scholars a most profitable field. In English he published A Practical (Irammar of Hit. t^anskrit Language (18U.S, 2d ed., re- vised and corrected, 18U8), and a Hanskril-Eng- lisli Dictionary (ISIifi). His writings further include an etymological dictionary of the Indo- Germanic languages (in 2 vols.), a valuable edi- tion, with a glossary and a translation into German (1848), of the ^laiiiarcda, and a Vollstiiiidigc druinmalik der Sanskritsprache (1852), supplemented by a Chrestomathie (2 parts, with a glossary, 185.3-54). His Kleinere Schriften, edited by Adalljprt Bezzenberger, ap- jiearcd in Berlin in" 1890-91 (2 vols.).

BENGAL, ben-gal' (Hind. Bangula, Skt. Vaiigalam, from Vaiiga, one of the five Aryan kingdoms). A lieutenant-governorship of British India, situated in the northeastern part of the Empire, extending from about latitude 19° 18' to 28° 15' N. and from about longitude 82° to 03° E. It is bounded by Nepal, Bhutan, and As- sam (till 1874 a part of Bengal) on the north, Assam and Burma on the east, the Bay of Ben- gal and iladras on the south, and the North- west and Central Provinces and Central India on the west. Thus outlined, the lieutenant-gov- ernorship comprises the provinces of Bengal proper, Behar, Orissa, and Chota-Nagpur, be- sides the tributary States. The total area of the four provinces under the direct administra- tion of Great Britain is 151,543 square miles, while that of the tributary States amounts to 58,500 square miles.

In its topographical conformation Bengal may be regarded as consisting of two river valleys, the western part forming the basin of the Ganges, and the eastern that of the Brahma- putra. While in the northern part the surface partakes to some extent of the mountainous character of the neighboring regions, the central, and especially the southeastern part around the vast delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, is a low plain, whose character is determined .solely by the two great water-arteries of the region, and the soil is mostly of an alluvial nature. With the exception of Egypt, there is hardly another coimtry in the world in which the hydrographic system is such a determining factor in the agricultural and general economic conditions of the country as it is in Bengal. This is especially true of the Ganges. After a long and swift coiirse through the mountainous regions of Northern India, where it receives the drainage of the surrounding country through its numerous tributaries, its course is checked b,v the more level surface of Bengal, and the im- mense quantities of silt brought by the current are deposited through numerous canals upon the surrounding level eountzy. This process of natu- ral manuring and periodic rejuvenation of the soil results in extraordinary fertility and pro- ductiveness, few regions excelling Bengal in variety or luxuriance of vegetation. In the southeastern part, where the country for hun- dreds of miles around is overflowed by the waters of the vast nimiber of streams, streamlets, and creeks forming the complicated delta of the Ganges, numerous embankments have been erected to cheek excessive inundation.

Agkiculture. Bengal is an agricultural coun- try, about four-fifths of the population being engaged directly or indirectly in agricultural pursuits. According to official estimates, the total area imder cultivation amounts to about 55.000,000 acres, of which over 40,000,000 are under rice, the staple of Bengal; about 11,000,- 000 acres under cereals, and over 4,000,000 acres under oil-seeds. The land is in some cases held by the farmers direct from the Government, but the practice of subletting land by the zamindaris is widespread. Of rice, there are cxiltivated three varieties: the horx, or spring rice, the aus, or autumn rice, and the aman, or winter rice, the last the most extensively cultivated of the three varieties. Of late the cultivation of jute (largely used in the manufacture of bagging) has in- creased to a considerable extent, and in some parts has even replaced rice. Indigo, once a very important product, receives only scanty attention from the native farmer; its cultiva- tion is confined chiefly to the European planta- tions, and it is still an important crop, especially in Central Bengal. Among other products are tea, cinchona, opium (the cultivation of which is a Government monopoly), and silk.

The manufacturing industries of Bengal have not only not kept pace with the agricultural development of tlie countr}', but have in many instances even retrograded, ifany of the native industries, such as the manufacture of dyes and the finer silks, as well as minor articles of gen- eral consumption, have almost disappeared, and the local demand for these articles is supplied largely by British manufacturers. Of late a number of large mills equipped with modern machinery have been established by Europeans in the larger centres of population. In the rural districts, however, a large part of the popula- tion, formerly engaged in industrial pursuits, have turned their attention to agriculture. The decline of the native industries is due largely to the development of railway transportation, which has enabled the machine-made goods of Great Britain to compete with the local hand- made articles. Taking into consideration the fact that the principal railway lines of Bengal were constructed at the expense of the State — i.e. of the native taxpayers — it may be doubted whether, on the whole, the natives have received a fair return for their outlay.

The foreign commerce of Bengal is considerable, and has been steadily increasing. The sea-borne import trade shows an increase from Rs241,386,6(i2 (.'};78.200,000) in 1885 to Rs353,644,924 (.$114,000,000) in 1900, a gain of more than 46 per cent, in 15 .years. The export trade has increased during the same period from Rs331,332,600 (.$107,3.50,000) to Rs500,593,287 ($164,130,000), or nearly 53 per cent. The imports consist mostly of cotton piece goods and cotton twist and yarn, which come almost exclusively from Great Britain; metals, mineral oil, machinery, and sugar. Of the exports, about one-fifth consists of opium and rice, and the rest of seeds, indigo, wheat, cotton, etc. The annual trade with Great Britain amounts to about $160,000,000, nearly equally divided between exports and imports. Outside of Great Britain, Bengal deals with China, the United States, Ger- many, and the Straits Settlements. Bengal has about ten ports, but by far the largest part of